Rolling-mill spindle-coupling.



H. R. GEER. ROLLING MILL SPINDLE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1910.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

INVENT?.

WTNESSES,

Ha JZ 066/,

HARRY R. GEER, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLING-MILL SPINDLE-COU'PLING.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 22, i912.

Application led November 19, 1910. Serial No. `593,149.

To all whom it may @officer-n:A

Be it known that I, HARRY R. GEER, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the hereby declare the following to be a full,

city of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Bolling-Mill Spindle-Couplings; and I do clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j My invention relates to rolling-mill apparatus and particularly to the spindle-couplings thereof which connect the driving shafts or customary pinions to the roll-necks,

.for the purpose of rotating the rolls.

My invention is particularly adaptedfor use in connection with metal-rolling mills of the two-high, or three-high type, the rolls of which require frequent adjustment in a vertical direction to accommodate the different slzes'of bars, blooms, plates or other products being operated upon, while maintaining at the same time operative rotative connection with the pinions or source of power.

Heretofore it has been generally customary to drive a pair or a 4set of three pinions by driving one of the same through the connection of one of its necks with the continuously or reversely rotating shaft of a steam engine, or other motor, while the other ends or so-called necks of the pinions are provided with similar connections for driving the rolls as hereinafter described.

The ordinary old styles of pinion-necks and' roll-necks are substantially cylindrical in form, and the outer portions of the same vwhich project from the bearings or housings are provided with three or four flutes, each flute being a rectangular, trapezoidal, semicircular or semi-oval l longitudinal groove; The old style coupling-box as `at present used, iscomposed, generally speaking, of a cylindrical annulus provided on its interlor vsurface with projections corresponding to the flutes in the necks of the pinions and rolls.

The ordinary old style spindle consists generally of a cylindrical shaft provided at each end with 'flutes similar to. those provided in the pinion-necks and roll-necks, and the pinions and rolls are thereby rotatively connected. by the use ofsaid coupling-boxes and spindles.- Owing to the rudeconstruction of these pinion-necks, roll-necks, spindles and coupling-boxes, and the necessary Vlarge amount of clearance in same t-o allow.

forirregularities and adjustments of the pinions and rolls, this construction is very noisy inoperation, and on account of the backlash in use, is very destructiveto the parts directly involved and to the other portions of the mechanism connected therewith, by reason of the jarring vvand .hammering action occasioned by said loose connection. This is particularly true on what are known as two-high reversing mills where the backlash of a set of old style spindles and couplings frequently amounts to one-third or one-half of a'complete revolution of a rolling-mill engine or motor. In other words,

when 'reversing an engine or motor for the purpose of operating a mill, this frequently has to turn around through about one hundred and eighty degreees before the rolls begin to move and the momentum thus acquired by, and the inertia of the heavy rolls,

and other parts, causes very severe and destructive percussion on the spindles and couplings and also jars the other parts of the apparatus with frequent disastrous results. This effect is repeated at very short intervals vof time as in two-high mills the reversal of their rotation is made after each pass. As an example of this, it has been found by experience on some mills that an old-style set of spindles and coupling-boxes will only last a week, as, by the end of that time, the -tluted ends of the spindles and the corresponding projections in the' coupling-boxes are so worn as to be useless, thereby necessitating their rejection and replacement byl new ones, which is therefore, a constant source of labor and expense, besides which, such spindles and coupling-boxes frequently break in use, due in some cases to the wedgin action of the worn parts.

y improved spindle-couplings are so constructed and arranged as to avoid the difficulties mentioned, as they are not subject to breakage or excessive wear, vand I have demonstrated by actual experience, after a set ofthese has run for more than a month, that the only adjustmentl necessary engines, spindles, coupling-boxes, ily-wheels,

ward frequently during the process of their operation, as customary andl necessary in p ate mills, blooming mills,slabb1ng mllls i and the like.

My invention consists essentially of a spindle of general cylindrical form, provided at each end with projections which are substantially rectangular 'in cross-section, secured to, or integral with, thespindle, the

major axis of sald projectionsbeing trans-l verse to the general'.l y In my invention fthe pinion-necks and roll-necks each have bifurcated ends, the interior opposite surfaces of which form portions of a concave cylindrical surface, the axis of which is transverse to the main axis of the rolls and pinions. Within these curves are'itted so-called slippers -or bearing pieces of bronze or other material, having convexcurvatures where they bear and rock-on the interior surfaces of the'bifurcated ends of the rollor pinion-necks, while the other sides of said slippers have lHat sur- Ifaces which are adapted to permit the opmain axis bf the spindle in posite sides of the rectangular vprojections of the spindle to bear and slide thereon', thereby forming supports and. bearingsl for the same. A large bolt passes through the roll or pinion-necks and the center ofV said slippers, which latter are provided with corresponding holes elongated transversely of said slippersl toV admit said boltR and permit the slippers to rock as herein described. The convex cylindrical surfaces 'of said slip- 'pers are adapted to bearagainst the concave cylindrical surfaces of theybifurcated ends of the roll and pinion-necks and to rock i or partially rot-ate to and fro thereon in order to accommodate the vibrating or oscillating movement ofthe spindle as compared with the roll or pinion-necks, and this movement is greater as the angularity of theaxis of the said spindle increases ias com pared with the position of the axes of the rolls and pinions.

Between the two projecting ends of m improved spindle is a central spacing-bloc preferably of cylindrical form, having a \hole therethrough at right angles to the axis'thereof, the said hole being ada ted to receive and fit the bolt which passest rough the biurcated ends of the roll or pinionnecks as previously mentioned. This cylindrical spacing-block has flat, parallel ends which bear against the opposite interior surfaces of the two one directionffor said spindle, whl e the slippers and `bifurcatedends of the roll' or4 rojecting ends of the spindle, thereby forming a sup ort in giving flexibility of joint' in any direction. l

This construct-ion can be made to fit quite accurately, thereby reducing all lost motion and backlash,- While at the same timeA the detailsl are such. that my improved spindlev can drive a! roll even though the angular position of said yspindle maybe varied by the movement of the roll.

My construction is cheaply made and permits leasy access for lubrication, inspection and-replacement of parts, if necessary. The sliding movementof the `projecting ends of the spindle between the slippers also vr-allows for the greater length of spindle required, owing to 'the fangularity of same when the roll is lifted,` as .will be readilyv understood.

Having thus given this general -description of my invention, I will now, in order to make the matter more clear, refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which likey numbers and characters indicate like parts Eigure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of pinions, a pair of two-high adjustable rolls, the driving 'connection between which vconsistsv of my improved spindle-coupling; the

dicated bythe dotted lines in .this ztigure., i

Fig. 2 'is a Avertical longitudinal sectional elevation offathe connecting ends of my improved s indle-coupling taken on thel line IIE-II o Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on 'the line lII-HI of Fig.l 2. \Fig. 4 is a sideview 01E- one of the ends of my im rovedhspindle. Fig. 5 is anillustration o the central spacin'gfblocl 17. Fig. 6 is, a view of one ofthe 'slippers showing the' convex cylindrical faces 'thereof and: the

elongated hole ltherethrough'. Y o p Referring now to the various characters i of reference on the drawings :-1 represents parts of the bed-plates of a rolling-mill; l

is one ofthe roll housings; 4 are the pin'ions, shown in this case .for 'la tWo-highmilhy The rollsl of the two-high mill are indicated as 5 the upper one of which is shown by full lines in its lowered position, while the dotted'lines indicate its higher position.

vThe bifurcated ends of my improved cou- '2 is one of the pinion housings therefor; 3 V

pling which are securedio, or form part of t-he pinion and rollfnecks,.a're indicated as 6, while 7 indicate the journal portions of the inion-necks and 8 indi/cate the journal portions of the roll-necks.

The grooves in the couplings forming theI vbifurcations'lthereof, are indicated as 9,

while the opposite interior surfaces of said bifurcations are indicated as 10 and 11 whichare portions of a concave cylindrical Asurface adapted to receive and fit the Vcorre,-x spending convex surfaces of the slippers.

The slippers 12 have a central projection or rib 13 having the general formofpart ofl a solid cylinder adapted to fit in the corresponding concave surface-11 in the bifurcathe concave cylindricall surfacesv 10.- Thetions of the coupling, while the main por-I tions of said slippersre'st and bear against .spindlesv are indicated as 14 and are prefer-p ably hollow as shown to provide lightness and strength, the upper one being what is known as the vibrating spindle, shown 'in its lowered position by full lines, and in its upperposition by the dotted lines.

The spindles 14 have enlarged ends 1 5 as shown, which are beveled as indicated, in"

order to allow for the vibration or angular movement of said spindles. s

The projections at the ends of -thespindle are indicated as 16, ofsubstantially rectan gular cross-section, arranged transversely to the principal axis of'said spin'dle, the ends of said projections being beveled -in order to make the structure compact and still prov-ide the -necessary clearance for vibration within the bifurcated'ends off the coupling. The central spacing-block is indicated as 17 of substantially cylindrical form, having a'. hole 20 therethrough at right angles to the axis of said cylinder. The bolt 18 passesA through the biurcated ends of the coupling and is secured therein as shown and-also passes through the elongatedhole's 19 .inf the slippers 12, while the spacing-blockjits lneatly on the central partv of said bolt, las

clearly shown in Fig. 2. The flat ends of I said spacing-block bearagainst the interior opposite surfaces of the-projections '16 and are adapted to slide thereon, while at the same time supporting said spindle' by'said projections in connection 'with the bolt 18.

The slippers 12 are each provided with an elongated `hole 19 through which the bolt 18 passes, the form of said elongated hole being such as to permit the slippers to rock backwardja'nd forward without interference from said bolt, this rocking provid-3y ing for the oscillating movement of the.

spindle in one direction. The oscillating movement of the spindle in the other direction is permitted by the sliding of the lprojections 16 on theiiat surfaces ofthe slippers 121and the spindleis supported meanwhile by the central block 17 which 1s ro- 4tatably fitted on thelbolt 18 and slidably fitted between the opposite surfaces of the projecting ends'16 of the spindle.

In order thatl the concave cylmdrlcal bearing surfaceswithin the bifurcated coupling 6 can beeasily formed and machined o'n a boring mill, lathe, or otherjcontinuously rotatinsi` cutter, I may provide clearance for sameyby extending the transverse slot form- ',use intended. 4 A v o 4While my invention is shown and illus- {trated-in-connection with a two-high rolling-niilhit is equally applicable to athree-` high, or' other style of rollin .-nill, land in rfactito anyv apparatus or mac ine in which -it' is desired to transmit rotating motion, .where.,from lack of rigidity, necessity .for automaticY adjustment, or otherwise, an ab.

solutely stiff coupling should not be used.

1 do notiv limit my invention to. the precise fdctails of'construction herein shown and' described, as it is capable of considerable structural variation,l and I ina use such'substitutions, modifications', e uivalents or alterations therein, as fall wit in the scope Iof my invention and set forth in the claims.

" What I-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. A vspindle provided with apair .of integral projections of substantially rectangular cross-section, arranged transversely and forming an opening at .the end thereof, a

.bifurcated coupling adap't'ed'to receive said projections, said bifurcate'd coupling having' -1ts` o po'site interior surfaces. .of concave vcylin rical forn'r arranged transversely' thereof slippers fitting the flat surfaces of said l'projections adapted-to allow. thesame to slidethereon, thefopposite sides .of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature -itting Within the corresponding concave surfaces'of the bifurcatediends of the coupling,l .a` cylindrical spacing-block, the

flatends of whichl are slidably mounted between said projections anda bolt passing transversely through said block= said slippers and the bifurcated coupling.

2. A spindle provided with a air -of in-l tegral projections of substantially rectangular cross-section arranged transversely at the end thereof, a bifurcated coupling having a corresponding `transverse groove,

'the 'opposite interior surfaces of v,which are'.

of concave cylindrical Jform, slippers fitting the at surfaces ofV said projections adapted to allow the same to slide thereon, the opposite sides of said slippers being. of convex cylindrical curvature in, rocking contact lar cross-section arranged transversely at the end thereof, a corresponding bifurcated coupling adapted' to receive said projec-4 tions, said bifurcated coupling having its 1 opposite interior surfaces of concave cylindrical form arranged transversely thereof,

. slippers fitting the flat surfaces of said pro- -jectlons and adapted to allow the same to slide thereon, the opposite surfaces of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature in rocking contact with the corresponding concave surfaces of the bifurcated ends of the coupling, a cylindrical spacing-block, the flaty ends of which are slidably mounted between said projections and a bolt passing transversely through said block said slippers and the bifurcated coupling.

4. A spindle provided with aV pair of integral projections of substantially rectangular cross-section spaced apart and arranged transversely at the end thereof, a bifurcated coupling having a corresponding transverse groove, the interior opposite surfaces of which are of concave cylindrical form, slippers fitting the fiat surfaces of said projections adapted to allow the same'to slide thereon, the opposite sides of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature fitted within the corresponding concave surfaces of the bifurcated ends ofthe coupling and adapted to rock therein, a cylindrical 40 spacing-block, -the flat ends of which 'are slidably mounted between said projections and a bolt passing transversely through said block said slippers and the bifurcated cou-` pling.

5. A spindle provided with a pair of projections of substantially rectangular crosssection spaced apart and arranged transversely at the end thereof, a bifurcated coupling having a corresponding transverse groove, the opposite interior surfaces of which are of concave cylindrical' form adapted to receive said projections, slippers fitting the flat surfaces of said projections and adapted to allow the same to slide 55 thereon, the opposite sides of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature in rocking contact with the corresponding concave surfaces of the bifurcatedends of the coupling, a cylindrical spacing-block located .60 between'the interior ends of said projections, t-he, flat ends of which are adapted for sliding contact therewith, and a bolt secured through said bifurcated ends and passing through elongated holes in said slippers and through said spacing-block, whereby the spacing-block, thereby holding theparts in aforesaid parts are held in operative position.

6. A spindle provided with a pivot arranged transversely at the `end thereof, said pivot being composed of a pair of lintegral projections of -substantially rectangularcross section, with slippers slidablyfmounted on the opposite flat sides thereof, the other said sides of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature, a corresponding bifurcated coupling vhaving oppositelydisposed concave cylindrical surfaces adapted to receive said projecting pivot and allow the same to rock therein, a cylindrical spacing-block, the flat ends of which are. 'A

slidably mounted between said projections and a bolt passing transversely through said block said slippers and the bifurcated'coupling.

7. A spindle provided with a pair of integral projections of substantially rectangular cross-section spaced apart, and arranged transversely thereof, a bifurcated coupling having a corresponding 'transverse groove, .the opposite interior surfaces of. which are of concave cylindrical form, slippers slidably mounted on the flat surfaces of said projections, the opposite sides of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature in rocking contact with the corresponding concave Isurfaces of the bifurcated coupling, a cylindrical spacing-block, the flat' ends of which are slidably mounted between said projections and a' bolt passing transversely throughsaid block said slippers and the bifurcated coupling. 4

8. A spindle provided with a pair of-integral projections spaced apart and arranged transversely at the end thereof, a bifurcated coupling having a' corresponding transverse groove, the opposite interior surfaces of which are of partially cylindrical concave form, slippers slidably mounted on the opposite Hat sides of'said projections, the other sides of said slippers being of convex cylindrical curvature in rocking contact with the corresponding grooves of the bifurcated coupling aforesaid, a cylindrical spacing-block located with its flat ends slidably bearing between the ends of said projections, and a bolt passing through said bifurcated coupling, through elongated holes in said slippers, and through 'a corresponding hole in said 12o operative position.

9. A spindle provided with a pair of integral projections of substantially rectangular cross section arranged transversely at the end thereof and provided with a slot or space between the same, a corresponding bifurcated coupling laving a transverse groove adapted to receive said projections, the opposite interior surfaces of said vgroove being of cylindrical c'oncave curvature ar- 13o ranged transversely of theaxis of. said coupling, bearings-located within said bifurcations adapted vfor rocking Contact with the lcurved surfaces thereof, and for sliding -contact with the opposite surfaces of the projections of said spindle, a cylindrical spacing-block located Within the intermediate slot aforesaid, the fiat ends of same bearing against the opposite surfaces thereo, and a 10 bolt passing through said bifurcated cou-`l In testimony -vwhereof I hereto aiix' my signaturel in the presence of two Witnesses. 15

HARRY R. GEEKa Witnesses: I. Emma Sm'vlnr;4 ROBERT A. BEERs. 

